Mineral Wells Area News

Mineral Wells finishes season with 17-11 record

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

GRAFORD – A two-out, two-run homer gave Graham a 4-2 walk-off win, propelling them to the Class 4A playoffs and ending the Mineral Wells Lady Rams season.

It was a heartbreaking end for Mineral Wells in the play-in game after the teams finished the regular season tied for fourth place in the District 6-4A standings with identical 4-6 records.

The game was knotted at two runs apiece entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Lady Rams pitcher Hailey McWhorter induced a strikeout and pop up for two quick outs, looking to send the game to extra innings. But an error put a Graham runner on second. Zoey Harrell then cracked a 3-0 pitch over the centerfield wall.

None of Graham’s runs were earned as the Lady Rams committed five errors in the contest.

The Lady Rams outhit Graham 4-3, with Karli Aaron collecting two of Mineral Wells’ hits.

Mineral Wells took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It began with McWhorter singling, then moving to second on a Tatum McMinn sacrifice bunt. McWhorter stole third and scored on Emery Boswell’s sacrifice fly to center.

Aubree Yowell opened the top of the fourth inning with a single. McWhorter bunted her to second. An error on a hit off Boswell’s bat put runners on the corners with two outs. Yowell stole home to give Mineral Wells a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Blues responded with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, the result of an outfield error. Graham led off the inning with a walk and a single, with both runners moving into scoring position on a ground out.

Mineral Wells finishes the season with a 17-11 overall record.